Last season's leading scorer Adam Le Fondre was initially credited with Reading's first goal although it appeared as if either Cole Skuse or Tyrone Mings may have got the last touch.

"It was Le Fondre's goal," said Adkins. "He got to the ball first."

"It came off the back of Mings," said McCarthy. "He will not want to claim it but it was an own goal."

Le Fondre is going to be a key player for a Reading side which Adkins has insisted could score 100 goals this season, despite no Reading player scoring since February.

The former Rotherham striker made his mark with the Royals last season as a super sub scoring eight times after coming off the bench, a Premier League record tally for a substitute.

It earned him the Royals player of the season award last season, even if it never seemed enough to earn him a starting place.

Ipswich took the lead in Saturday's encounter after 16 minutes with a goal from former Royal Jay Tabb. He saw his first shot well saved by Alex McCarthy in the 16th minute but when the ball rebounded to him he made no mistake the second time.

Ipswich were having the better of the game but a minute before the interval came that confusing equaliser.

One thing both managers agreed on was that it was a superb left-wing cross from McLeary that saw three players jump together.

"Never mind the confusion about the scorer. Let's praise the delivery," said Adkins.

Sixteen minutes from time, an unmarked Danny Guthrie, midway into the Reading half, lashed a spectacular winner over the head of Scott Loach.

Even then McCarthy felt that it had taken a slight deflection off Elliott Hewitt.

"If we play like that for the rest of the season, I will be pleased and we will be fine," said McCarthy.

"We looked comfortable and lost out to an outstanding strike. This is a tough place to come to.

"The second goal took a slight deflection off Elliott and I thought he might have dealt with the situation better. The equaliser came of the back of Mings.

"Credit Garath McLeary for the cross that led to Reading's first. It was a fine delivery.

"I was pleased with our performance and it was no surprise that Jay Tabb should grab a goal on his return to Reading. Things like that do seem to happen.

"I am not unhappy with that as an opening game because it was a difficult one to start with."

Adkins, meanwhile, confirmed that surprise-choice Sean Morrison will remain captain of the Royals.

"Our previous captain Jobi McAnuff was on the bench as an impact player today so Sean got the armband," he said.

"We won, so he will stay in the side and keep the captain's job. Jobi has done magnificently for me and will continue to do so.

"We have got three points from a challenging fixture and I am delighted we got off to a winning start.

"We had to show a lot of resolve at the end.

"I think everyone can see that our new signing Royston Drenthe is a real talent and will be an exciting player for us this season."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.